Prior to going to sea, Eli’s occupation was as a Pit Lad. He joined the Navy as a “Boy Rating”, going on to be a telegraphist on a number of ships including Ganges, Tamar and Vivid 1.

At the time of Eli’s marriage to Eva Boardman, he was recorded as being a Telegraphist with the Royal Navy.

On the certificate it states she was 23 years old, BUT, she was born in July 1898 – which would make her at least 25 years! (She wouldn’t be 26 years old until the July).

Eli Windlow is stated as being 24 years old, but he was born in 1902, which would make him 21 years old!

(Could this be deliberate or an error? Did he have to lie to get into the Navy, or was it to save face for marrying a woman older than him???

Did the registrar get it mixed up?) We Will Never Know!

He was a Wireless Telegraphist HMS Ramiles at the time of birth of the 1st daughter.

Eli was invalided out of the Navy in 1926 due to “Myopic Astigmatism”.

Eli is recorded in the British Postal Service Appointment Books for 1926 as a certified wireless operator or watcher, however, there is no location recorded, but it can be assumed that this was in Dorset as their second daughter, was born in Dorset in 1928.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists record him as being a wireless operator on board the SS Rajputana, a British passenger and cargo carrying ocean liner in 1932.

The port of departure was Yokohama, Japan, bound for London, England, and the ports during the voyage were Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Penang, Colombo, Bombay, Port Said, Malta, Marseilles, Gibraltar, and Plymouth.

Eli’s home residence was recorded as 5 Belle Vue, Weymouth, Dorset.

In 1936, there is a phone directory listing for Eli Windlow at 29 Howard Road, Walthamstow, London E17.

I remember being told that part of my mum’s childhood was spent in Walthamstow – she would have been about 11 years old when this entry was published, however, it does not tell us what Eli’s occupation was at this time.

At some point, the story goes that Eli left Eva to live with another woman in London, but apparently, they were never divorced because on Eva’s death certificate she is recorded as being the widow of Eli Windlow – his date of death is unknown.